Black Workers in the Black Workers in the Early 20Early 20thth Century: Century:

Art, Activism & InclusionArt, Activism & Inclusion

The Black working classThe Black working class

Black men worked in factories, mines, Black men worked in factories, mines, and millsand mills Usually paid less than white menUsually paid less than white men White men claimed blacks robbed them of White men claimed blacks robbed them of

jobsjobs Black women worked for white familiesBlack women worked for white families

Cooks, laundresses, and maidsCooks, laundresses, and maids Black workers were often used as Black workers were often used as

strikebreakersstrikebreakers

Black Workers by Major Industrial Group, 1920

By 1920 thousands of African Americans had moved to northern cities and were By 1920 thousands of African Americans had moved to northern cities and were employed in a variety of mostly unskilled and low-paying industrial jobs that employed in a variety of mostly unskilled and low-paying industrial jobs that nonetheless paid more than farm labor. Still, agriculture remained the largest nonetheless paid more than farm labor. Still, agriculture remained the largest single source of employment among black people, and agriculture and domestic single source of employment among black people, and agriculture and domestic service together employed more than two-thirds of African-American men and service together employed more than two-thirds of African-American men and women. women. About 5 percent were employed in “white-collar” jobsAbout 5 percent were employed in “white-collar” jobs..

Source: Sterling D. Spero and Abram L. Harris, The Black Worker: The Negro and the Labor Movement (1928), 81.

Figure Figure 17–1. 17–1. Black Black Workers Workers by Major by Major Industrial Industrial Group, Group, 19201920

Although most southern black people worked long hours in cotton fields, thousands toiled in factories, mills, and mines.

Here black women stem tobacco in a Virginia factory under the supervision of a white man.

UnionsUnions Often excluded black men in late 19th centuryOften excluded black men in late 19th century

Knights of LaborKnights of Labor, 1869, 1869 Open to black men and women, but lost power to theOpen to black men and women, but lost power to the

American Federation of LaborAmerican Federation of Labor, 1886 which initially barred , 1886 which initially barred women and black tradesmenwomen and black tradesmen

United Mine WorkersUnited Mine Workers, 1890, 1890 Encouraged black coal miners to joinEncouraged black coal miners to join

The Industrial Workers of the WorldThe Industrial Workers of the World, 1905, 1905 Encouraged black coal miners to joinEncouraged black coal miners to join

National Colored Labor UnionNational Colored Labor Union, 1869, 1869 African Americans fought in various ways to organize in African Americans fought in various ways to organize in

unions & advocate for improved working conditions and unions & advocate for improved working conditions and better jobsbetter jobs

These efforts were influenced greatly by the Depression These efforts were influenced greatly by the Depression and New Dealand New Deal

The Founders of the Knights of LaborThe Founders of the Knights of Labor

The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car PortersThe Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters

•Pullman Palace Car Company founded by George Pullman in 1867

•12,000 black porters by the 1920s

•A. Philip Randolph was asked to lead the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP) in 1925 at a meeting in Harlem

•The BSCP used the slogan “service not servitude”

•BSCP had to fight the Pullman Company and even the black press for recognition as a legitimate union

The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car PortersThe Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters

A. Philip RandolphA. Philip Randolph

In this painting by Betsy G. Reyneau, A. Philip Randolph hardly resembles the militant agitator, activist, and labor leader he was.

He became the head of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, and he eventually rose to power in the American Federation of Labor.

He planned the first March on Washington in 1941 and was responsible for organizing the 1963 March on Washington.

Sharecropper, 1948

1. White was born in Chicago in 1918

2. Father was American Indian & mother was from a MS farming family

3. His mother was a domestic worker

4. He had been a valet & a cook and was denied an art scholarship because of his race

5. Got to paint due to FDR’s Works Progress Administration (a New Deal art and employment project)

6. Was in an art union & was an anti-war activist

Charles WhiteCharles White

Charles WhiteCharles White

Mural, 1939Mural, 1939“…paint is the only weapon I have with which to fight what I resent…” –Charles White

Ella BakerElla Baker

1.1. Born in VA in 1903Born in VA in 19032.2. Grandmother told her stories about slaveryGrandmother told her stories about slavery3.3. During the Great Depression, she was involved in the Young Negroes’ During the Great Depression, she was involved in the Young Negroes’

Cooperative League in Harlem, Harlem Housewives, the Women Day Cooperative League in Harlem, Harlem Housewives, the Women Day Workers, the YWCAWorkers, the YWCA

4.4. Was also a teacher through the New Deal Was also a teacher through the New Deal Work’s Progress AdministrationWork’s Progress Administration5.5. Became a field staff member of the Became a field staff member of the NAACPNAACP in 1941 as a result of Walter in 1941 as a result of Walter

White recognizing her talentWhite recognizing her talent6.6. Helped MLK Jr. organize the Helped MLK Jr. organize the SCLCSCLC (Southern Christian Leadership (Southern Christian Leadership

Conference)Conference)7.7. In 1960, inspired by the Greensboro sit-ins, help found In 1960, inspired by the Greensboro sit-ins, help found SNCCSNCC (the Student (the Student

Non-Violent Coordinating Committee); together with CORE (the Congress of Non-Violent Coordinating Committee); together with CORE (the Congress of Racial Equality) planned the 1961 Freedom Rides and led the 1964 Freedom Racial Equality) planned the 1961 Freedom Rides and led the 1964 Freedom SummerSummer

Ella BakerElla Baker

Angelo HerndonAngelo Herndon1. In the 1930s, the Communist Party

became increasingly active in advocating for an end to job discrimination against blacks

2. Herndon was a party organizer 3. Arrested in 1932 & convicted in

Atlanta for “inciting insurrection”; only 19 at the time

4. Case displayed southern fear of racial equality because the Communist Party embraced both white & black members

5. Was sentenced to 20 years on a chain gang sparked a nationwide movement of black organizations, labor unions & religious groups to free him

6. 1937, Supreme Court (5-4) declared GA’s slave insurrection law unconstitutional & Herndon was freed

““All my life I’d been sweated and All my life I’d been sweated and stepped on and Jim-Crowed. I lay on stepped on and Jim-Crowed. I lay on my belly in the mines for a few dollars my belly in the mines for a few dollars a week, and saw my pay stolen and a week, and saw my pay stolen and slashed, and my buddies killed…I slashed, and my buddies killed…I know now, that the Communist Party know now, that the Communist Party is the only program that the Southern is the only program that the Southern workers—whites and Negroes both—workers—whites and Negroes both—can possibly accept in the long run.” can possibly accept in the long run.”

––Angelo HerndonAngelo Herndon

Angelo HerndonAngelo Herndon

United Packinghouse Workers of AmericaUnited Packinghouse Workers of America

1.1. The Congress of Industrial Organizations’ The Congress of Industrial Organizations’ (CIO) Packinghouse Workers Organizing (CIO) Packinghouse Workers Organizing Committee (PWOC) formed in 1937. Its Committee (PWOC) formed in 1937. Its expressed purpose was to forge working expressed purpose was to forge working class solidarity across racial lines.class solidarity across racial lines.

2.2. The PWOC organized Chicago The PWOC organized Chicago meatpacking plants, one by one. meatpacking plants, one by one.

3.3. World War II caused militancy especially World War II caused militancy especially among black activists & strained the among black activists & strained the coalition, but the integrated coalition, but the integrated United United Packinghouse Workers of America Packinghouse Workers of America (UPWA)(UPWA) was founded in 1943. was founded in 1943.

4.4. Because of its integrated roots & Because of its integrated roots & successful successful strike actionsstrike actions in the in the immediate post-war period ( to oppose to immediate post-war period ( to oppose to wage changes & anti-union laws), the wage changes & anti-union laws), the UPWA was able to put anti-discrimination UPWA was able to put anti-discrimination work at the forefront of its efforts & work at the forefront of its efforts & maintain integrated membership through maintain integrated membership through the remainder of its tenure. the remainder of its tenure.

UPWAUPWA

UPWAUPWA